Hi everyone. Since my last post, my brother came by and we started talking about the wandering steering problem. He's a 'trained' mechanic and was bouncing my ideas off him. We re-checked the ball joints and tie rods again and there's no tell tale signs that they are bad. I was talking about how much slop was in the steering and that after adjusting the steering box a couple months ago, it seemed alot better for about 2 weeks and then got bad again. Well, the truck was off and I started turning the wheel back and forth to show him how much play was there before the wheels would turn. Well, it made a heck of a popping sound when turned to the right, right at the point where the slack took up. Watched the pitman arm, ok, watched the tie rods and was obvious there was no slack there. I grabbed ahold of the steering shaft as he turned the wheel back and forth, thinking maybe it really was the intermediate shaft. I grabbed it, and peering under the hood watching his hands on the wheel, I could grab tight and his hand would immediately stop. Both directions. So, I reason that it's definitely not the shaft. But I FELT the pop. It seems to be resounding from the steering box! I put my foot against the driver's side wheel and pushed real hard at the 10 o'clock position and it would pop then as well. Did it at the 2 o'clock position and could hear nothing.

The last time I adjusted the steering box, I had to turn the thrust bolt 2 full turns to take up the slack. I did make sure it would return to center. Anyone know how much a new steering box cost? I thought about a salvage yard but don't want to get another box with 100k on it and have to go through this again.

I appreciate your time and patience with me! I'm eagerly awaiting your comments!!!

Chris Robinson

 

Chris,

I bought a steering box from NAPA, which is a rebuilt, and the cost was $225. The Ford price for a new one was I believe over $400. This is for an 82 E-250 Saginaw and the 82 Ford gear was about the same. I don't think the price for your gear is going to be much different. Also, if you get the gear from Autozone, it will carry a lifetime warranty. From NAPA a year. I didn't know Autozone did steering gears until after I got mine from NAPA. You live and learn.

John

 

Hi everyone, I changed out the steering box yesterday. Now drives like a new truck!!!! The old box turns out to be out of a 92 that had over 160k when it went in!!!! I placed the box in a vice, clamping the pitman arm shaft and you could turn the input shaft 1/4 turn with your fingers!!! I've been very surprised with how responsive the steering is now!!!

Chris R.